A congressman is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate allegations of police misconduct in connection with the treatment of Occupy Wall Street protesters and members of the press covering the demonstrations in New York City.

In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler said there were "troubling reports" of possible misconduct by police.

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He said there were reports of "possible unlawful surveillance" of protesters' constitutionally-protected activities and excessive use of force by NYPD officers.

He said he was "especially troubled" that the NYPD "aggressively blocked journalists" from reporting the Nov. 15 eviction of protesters from the Manhattan park they were occupying.